No More Screens On Shorthaul?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
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No More Screens On Shorthaul?
Maybe I've missed something here, but has the use of the folding down screens on A319/A320/A321 aircraft recently been stopped?
Just taken a flight to Stockholm (A320) and back (A321) and both times the crew did a manual safety demonstration (I know this has been mentioned before as sometimes they don't like the awkwardness of the safety video!), but then they never folded down to show the moving map either. (I was always quite fond of the moving map!)
Have I just been on two flights with broken screens? Or are BA now stopping to use them and if so why?
Wondering if it might be to do with the introduction of the new aircraft which don't have them fitted (Neo?) so they can retain consistency across the fleet?
Or am I imagining things!?
Ta!
Just taken a flight to Stockholm (A320) and back (A321) and both times the crew did a manual safety demonstration (I know this has been mentioned before as sometimes they don't like the awkwardness of the safety video!), but then they never folded down to show the moving map either. (I was always quite fond of the moving map!)
Have I just been on two flights with broken screens? Or are BA now stopping to use them and if so why?
Wondering if it might be to do with the introduction of the new aircraft which don't have them fitted (Neo?) so they can retain consistency across the fleet?
Or am I imagining things!?
Ta!
#3
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The new A320neos do not have screens - the 4 neos BA currently are only doing routes from T3 for now.
I understand that the densified existing aircraft are having the screens removed and there are a couple of A321s around which have already been done.
Sometimes manual demonstrations are done anyway (e.g. short taxi, tech issue), and sometimes they are not used during the flight (e.g. tech issue, crew forget).
I understand that the densified existing aircraft are having the screens removed and there are a couple of A321s around which have already been done.
Sometimes manual demonstrations are done anyway (e.g. short taxi, tech issue), and sometimes they are not used during the flight (e.g. tech issue, crew forget).
#4
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To simplify a complex arrangement (given current fleet swaps), LGW aircraft don't have screens and thus no moving map; the the NEOs won't have them either. For the NEOs, the space is essentially needed for the extra air masks, and there are some complex weight/balance issues too. However the Moving Map will be preserved via the new satellite wifi software, which is installed already to most of the LHR shorthaul fleet, and waiting regulatory approval. As I understand it, the Moving Map aspect will be in some form free of charge, and more detailed than the current 3 pieces of software out there.
#5
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#6
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To simplify a complex arrangement (given current fleet swaps), LGW aircraft don't have screens and thus no moving map; the the NEOs won't have them either. For the NEOs, the space is essentially needed for the extra air masks, and there are some complex weight/balance issues too. However the Moving Map will be preserved via the new satellite wifi software, which is installed already to most of the LHR shorthaul fleet, and waiting regulatory approval. As I understand it, the Moving Map aspect will be in some form free of charge, and more detailed than the current 3 pieces of software out there.
any rough idea on the timescale of the wifi rollout?
#8
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In the next few months, hopefully. It's a legal tussle at the moment thanks to inter-company rivalry, more details in the main wifi thread in the Dashboard.
If you are sat by the window and have a good quality mobile phone, Google maps will work (and some specialist flight map Apps) in flight-safe mode, by processing the GSM signal. 787 services are too heavily shielded, in my experience, however.
If you are sat by the window and have a good quality mobile phone, Google maps will work (and some specialist flight map Apps) in flight-safe mode, by processing the GSM signal. 787 services are too heavily shielded, in my experience, however.
#9
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#10
Join Date: Mar 2011
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In the next few months, hopefully. It's a legal tussle at the moment thanks to inter-company rivalry, more details in the main wifi thread in the Dashboard.
If you are sat by the window and have a good quality mobile phone, Google maps will work (and some specialist flight map Apps) in flight-safe mode, by processing the GSM signal. 787 services are too heavily shielded, in my experience, however.
If you are sat by the window and have a good quality mobile phone, Google maps will work (and some specialist flight map Apps) in flight-safe mode, by processing the GSM signal. 787 services are too heavily shielded, in my experience, however.
#11
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#12
Join Date: Jan 2016
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Virtually all cell phones use something called A-GPS (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_GPS) that uses cell tower signals to find your first position. The initial accuracy doesn't need to be that high, it's just trying to reduce the time and power it takes to lock on to satellites.
If you're on recent Android releases, the way they find your position is a blend of a bunch of different things, not just GPS. If you want _serious_ detail, Google puts out an Android developer podcast, and there was a recent show on location providers. Android Developers Backstage: Episode 96: Location: It's Where It's At
If you're on recent Android releases, the way they find your position is a blend of a bunch of different things, not just GPS. If you want _serious_ detail, Google puts out an Android developer podcast, and there was a recent show on location providers. Android Developers Backstage: Episode 96: Location: It's Where It's At
#13
Join Date: Nov 2017
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Virtually all cell phones use something called A-GPS (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_GPS) that uses cell tower signals to find your first position. The initial accuracy doesn't need to be that high, it's just trying to reduce the time and power it takes to lock on to satellites.
If you're on recent Android releases, the way they find your position is a blend of a bunch of different things, not just GPS. If you want _serious_ detail, Google puts out an Android developer podcast, and there was a recent show on location providers. Android Developers Backstage: Episode 96: Location: It's Where It's At
If you're on recent Android releases, the way they find your position is a blend of a bunch of different things, not just GPS. If you want _serious_ detail, Google puts out an Android developer podcast, and there was a recent show on location providers. Android Developers Backstage: Episode 96: Location: It's Where It's At
#14
Join Date: Jul 2014
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Very interesting, thank you ^ I was aware that cell towers could be used to determine position to a certain degree - in the context of this usage however, would we not be relying on "pure" GPS since the phone will (should!) be in flight mode, and therefore the assistance would be unavailable?